Sometimes, we find ourselves in places we did not choose and do not know how to escape. In our text, Hezekiah finds himself in such a place. He was a man of faith and dedication, yet he was battling a sickness to the point of death. Often, we question why we are going through something. We cannot underside why until after we come out of it. God will allow things to come into our lives to take us to a place where we have no choice but to turn to Him. God wants us to have a better understanding of Him and to draw closer to Him. Brother Hughes finds three clues to dealing with life's difficult situations in this story. First, Hezekiah found the word of God is enough to sustain him in times of trouble. Secondly, Hezekiah discovered the power of God. While praying, he turned his face to the wall and began to truly seek God. God restored him to health. The word for healing in the original Hebrew means to recover the dream. God wants to restore our dreams. The final thing Hezekiah discovered is in verse 17: The love of God. There is no place that is too far or too deep for God's love to go. Sometimes, we have to go into a low place before we realize how much He loves us and how strong He is.

Sometimes, we find ourselves in places we did not choose and do not know how to escape. In our text, Hezekiah finds himself in such a place. He was a man of faith and dedication, yet he was battling a sickness to the point of death. Often, we question why we are going through something. We cannot underside why until after we come out of it. God will allow things to come into our lives to take us to a place where we have no choice but to turn to Him. God wants us to have a better understanding of Him and to draw closer to Him. Brother Hughes finds three clues to dealing with life's difficult situations in this story. First, Hezekiah found the word of God is enough to sustain him in times of trouble. Secondly, Hezekiah discovered the power of God. While praying, he turned his face to the wall and began to truly seek God. God restored him to health. The word for healing in the original Hebrew means to recover the dream. God wants to restore our dreams. The final thing Hezekiah discovered is in verse 17: The love of God. There is no place that is too far or too deep for God's love to go. Sometimes, we have to go into a low place before we realize how much He loves us and how strong He is.

Sometimes, we find ourselves in places we did not choose and do not know how to escape. In our text, Hezekiah finds himself in such a place. He was a man of faith and dedication, yet he was battling a sickness to the point of death. Often, we question why we are going through something. We cannot underside why until after we come out of it. God will allow things to come into our lives to take us to a place where we have no choice but to turn to Him. God wants us to have a better understanding of Him and to draw closer to Him. Brother Hughes finds three clues to dealing with life's difficult situations in this story. First, Hezekiah found the word of God is enough to sustain him in times of trouble. Secondly, Hezekiah discovered the power of God. While praying, he turned his face to the wall and began to truly seek God. God restored him to health. The word for healing in the original Hebrew means to recover the dream. God wants to restore our dreams. The final thing Hezekiah discovered is in verse 17: The love of God. There is no place that is too far or too deep for God's love to go. Sometimes, we have to go into a low place before we realize how much He loves us and how strong He is.

When we think of sin, we often go to the extremes:  Drugs, Alcohol, Sexual Sins.  But God hates all sins, even the small ones.

The Bible tells us in Romans that all have sinned and fallen short. We are all imperfect.  We often think of sin as an action, something we did. But the truth is that inaction is also a sin.  

Ham found his father, Noah, drunk and uncovered in his tent.  He went out and told his brothers but did nothing to preserve his father's dignity. Ham and his sons were cursed because he didn't do anything.

The parable of the servants and the talents also illustrates this concept.  Two servants took the talents their master gave them and made a profit.  The third servant hid the talents in the ground and was rebuked for doing nothing. 

Doing nothing may start as a delay, but it can turn into rebellion if left unchecked.  Inaction is a sin.  Not contributing is a sin. What we are not doing is just as bad as what they are doing.  We cannot sit back when we see people hurting, hungry, or desperate and do nothing.  We come to the altar and ask God to forgive us for what we have done, but when was the last time we asked for forgiveness for what we didn't do?

When we think of sin, we often go to the extremes:  Drugs, Alcohol, Sexual Sins.  But God hates all sins, even the small ones.

The Bible tells us in Romans that all have sinned and fallen short. We are all imperfect.  We often think of sin as an action, something we did. But the truth is that inaction is also a sin.  

Ham found his father, Noah, drunk and uncovered in his tent.  He went out and told his brothers but did nothing to preserve his father's dignity. Ham and his sons were cursed because he didn't do anything.

The parable of the servants and the talents also illustrates this concept.  Two servants took the talents their master gave them and made a profit.  The third servant hid the talents in the ground and was rebuked for doing nothing. 

Doing nothing may start as a delay, but it can turn into rebellion if left unchecked.  Inaction is a sin.  Not contributing is a sin. What we are not doing is just as bad as what they are doing.  We cannot sit back when we see people hurting, hungry, or desperate and do nothing.  We come to the altar and ask God to forgive us for what we have done, but when was the last time we asked for forgiveness for what we didn't do?

When we think of sin, we often go to the extremes:  Drugs, Alcohol, Sexual Sins.  But God hates all sins, even the small ones.

The Bible tells us in Romans that all have sinned and fallen short. We are all imperfect.  We often think of sin as an action, something we did. But the truth is that inaction is also a sin.  

Ham found his father, Noah, drunk and uncovered in his tent.  He went out and told his brothers but did nothing to preserve his father's dignity. Ham and his sons were cursed because he didn't do anything.

The parable of the servants and the talents also illustrates this concept.  Two servants took the talents their master gave them and made a profit.  The third servant hid the talents in the ground and was rebuked for doing nothing. 

Doing nothing may start as a delay, but it can turn into rebellion if left unchecked.  Inaction is a sin.  Not contributing is a sin. What we are not doing is just as bad as what they are doing.  We cannot sit back when we see people hurting, hungry, or desperate and do nothing.  We come to the altar and ask God to forgive us for what we have done, but when was the last time we asked for forgiveness for what we didn't do?

Our text from Hebrews is Paul is wrapping up his writing to the believers in Jerusalem. Earlier in the chapter, he compares life to a race. It is essential to understand that this race is not against each other but with ourselves.

God desires that all complete the race and are saved. Our job in living for God is to clear the path for people who are hindered. Paul extols us to "make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way." It is not our job to decide if people are worthy to come to the table. We have to make room for it lest we be the hindrance.

We have to make room for mercy, not get in its way.

Our text from Hebrews is Paul is wrapping up his writing to the believers in Jerusalem. Earlier in the chapter, he compares life to a race. It is essential to understand that this race is not against each other but with ourselves.

God desires that all complete the race and are saved. Our job in living for God is to clear the path for people who are hindered. Paul extols us to "make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way." It is not our job to decide if people are worthy to come to the table. We have to make room for it lest we be the hindrance.

We have to make room for mercy, not get in its way.

Our text from Hebrews is Paul is wrapping up his writing to the believers in Jerusalem. Earlier in the chapter, he compares life to a race. It is essential to understand that this race is not against each other but with ourselves.

God desires that all complete the race and are saved. Our job in living for God is to clear the path for people who are hindered. Paul extols us to "make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way." It is not our job to decide if people are worthy to come to the table. We have to make room for it lest we be the hindrance.

We have to make room for mercy, not get in its way.

Every game should begin with a plan. Sometimes the game plan doesn’t work, so the coach must make changes to win the game. Every coach works to win until the game is over. Success in the game has a sound associated. A home run, a long pass reception, or a goal scored in soccer generates a loud cheer from the crowd. How much more should the people of God lift a shout of victory for a God that helps us to triumph in His name? We need more than a sound. We need more than a goal or a point scored. We need a game plan to win. He stands undefeated. If we are losing, it is because we do not show up prepared. The Bible talks about the armor of God, but do we actually use it? The tools God gives us do not good if we do not pick them up and use them. It is not enough to want to win. We must have a plan and be skilled with the tools we have to be victorious.